The word docent is derived from the word docens or docere, which in means “to teach,” in Latin. One definition given by Webster Online is “a person who leads guided tours especially through a museum or art gallery.” Maturango Museum's volunteer docents do a little of both, according to Education Coordinator Nora Nuckles, although Nuckles is careful to emphasize that teaching experience is not necessary to be a docent.

The Docent League of the Maturango Museum has roughly 30 volunteers, conducting programs on topics as diverse as Petroglyphs, Canines and Felines, Ethnobotany, and Skulls and Skins ― even one on Manzanar. All are free. Programs run at least 45-60 minutes for second grade and above, and 40-45 minutes for kindergarten through first-graders. Docent-led activities also include museum tours and art gallery tours.

One attraction is the Beth Armogida Planetarium, a inflatable portable planetarium. “It's like a big tent with a zipper,” Nuckles explained. The planetarium was purchased last spring and has proved wildly popular. The planetarium cost roughly $28,000, all from donations, Nuckles said. It was named after Beth Armigoda because the Armigodas were key donors. It holds roughly 33 young kids or roughly 22 people of mixed ages.

“We've done a lot with the planetarium this year,” Nuckles said.

She explained the planetarium experience. “What they see when they first walk in, we have the lights really low and you see a horizon. As the lights go down, then we have the stars come up. We present the constellations. We do planets. We do things on the sun and the moon” and “beyond space, where the Hubble telescope is looking. And you see that far-off view. We thought there was nothing out there, [but] there's many, many solar systems.”

Nuckles said the planetarium has been to nearly all the Sierra Sands schools, to Lone Pine, to Trona and to California City.

In 2013 the Docent League was busy, presenting 278 programs to more than 7862 people. Of these roughly 80 percent were outreach programs. The list of schools and preschools to take advantage of this opportunity is long. In 2013, the Docent League presented programs to the following schools and preschools: Sierra Sands District schools, Immanuel Christian, St. Ann, Ridgecrest Charter, Trona Elementary School and Trona High School, Woodrow Wilson Elementary in Lake Isabella, Heritage Montessori, Shine Montessori, Oasis, Pierce State preschool, the preschool at the Naval Air Weapons Center, and home schools. Also receiving docent presentations were several Scout troops and after-school groups, the now-defunct Boys and Girls Club as well as the garden club, Historical Society, Wildflower show, the Ridgecrest Summer Reading Program and adult bus tour groups.

Schools or groups wishing to schedule a program fill out a program request form at the Museum. Forms are due before the first Tuesday of each month.

Page 2 of 2 - Training for new docents will take place Aug. 18 through 22. Volunteers must be at least 18 or taking the training along with their parents, according to Nuckles. In addition to the five-day training in August, docents get a lot of “on the job” training and can choose to specialize in subjects they are interested in. Time commitments can vary, she said. “If someone has two hours a month, we'd still rather have them involved.”

For more information on the Docent League of the Maturango Museum contact Nora Nuckles at 760-375-6900 or matmus7@maturango.org.